Paparua Works Subsidy £7800 Less Than Sought

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29747, 14 February 1962, Page 8

Paparua Works Subsidy £7800 Less Than Sought

The Paparua County Council has been allocated a £31,200 subsidy on the works programme for the year 196263. It is £7BOO short of the amount sought. The reduction left council funds of £10,400 unsubsid.sed, reducing the proposed subsidised works programme by £18,200, said the chairman (Mr J. H. Weaver). The council had counted on getting 15s in the £ subsidy from the No. 14 District Roads Council on the £52,000 works programme. "It is a matter of very considerable concern and alarm,” said Mr Weaver.

The matter was taken to Mr N. A. Rattray, a council representative on the National Roads Board. He had given assurance it would be discussed by the board next week.

Failing a satisfactory solution, Mr Rattray would arrange a meeting of county representatives and the board’s chairman (Mr Goosman).

Mr Weaver was given authority to go to Wellington if necessary. “It would be unfair to expect the council to spend its extra £ 10,400 which it has available, unless a subsidy is payable,” Mr Weaver said.

“It is apparently the intention of the National Roads Board to restrict counties to a maximum increase of 4 per cent, in their subsidised works programmes for the coming year,” said Mr Weaver. “Such a decision is unrealistic when applied to urban or semi-urban counties with a substantial rate of normal development. “The more static counties are reported to have received their full basic allocations,” he said.

It was always understood that under the provisions of the National Roads Act a basic subsidy of 15s in the £

was payable as “of right,” Mr Weaver said.

Subsidy funds left over after basic requirements had been met will be paid as “free grants" to councils. About £4 million was now necessary for basic subsidies, which left £2 million for “free grants." “Under these circumstances it appears there is no justification for this council not even receiving its basic subsidy—especially as the council’s programme is being financed entirely from county funds,” Mr W’eaver said. It was possible that other counties growing fast were in the same position, Mr Weaver said.

It meant that ratepayers from newly developed areas were getting no subsidy on their rates.